A 36-year-old man, Kofitse Zigah, an electrician and resident of Adoteykope, a suburb of Aflao, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for impregnating his 15-year-old daughter.
The Tokor Circuit Court in the Ketu South Municipality, presided over by Joseph Ofosu Behome, handed Kofitse the sentence after he pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement.
Reports indicate the convict defiled his 15-year-old daughter on two occasions, resulting in the pregnancy.
The Prosecutor, Police Inspector Albert Kombor, told the court that the complainant, Faustina Elikplim Korwu, who is the Assembly member for the Avoeme West Electoral Area, on May 1, 2025, led the victim to report to the Aflao Police Station, where the convict was arrested.
He narrated that the convict, during his birthday in February this year, gave the victim a non-alcoholic beverage, making her doze off a few moments after consuming it.
The victim, according to the prosecutor, after waking up, found a whitish fluid substance on her lap and in her pants, which she showed to the convict but didn’t make any comments.
Inspector Kombor further stated that on April 15, 2025, the convict celebrated the victim’s birthday and once more gave her a soft drink suspected to be laced with a sedative, after which he again took the victim into the bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her.
Later in the month, the victim experienced headache and tiredness and informed her father, the convict.
During an errand for the convict on May 1, 2025, the Assemblywoman, who is the complainant, chanced upon the victim and questioned her, whereupon she narrated what had transpired between her and the convict, and the matter was reported to the police.
According to the prosecutor, a medical form was issued by the police to the complainant to send the victim to the hospital after the report, and she was taken to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital. The report showed the young girl was 15 weeks and 4 days pregnant.
The convict pleaded guilty simpliciter when he was first arraigned on Monday, May 5, 2025, and was given the jail term during his second court appearance. Miss Korwu, the complainant, reacting to the sentence, indicated that she was pleased with the swift delivery of justice.
She said that although she had expected a longer jail term for the convict, she believed the presiding judge might have taken his admission of guilt into consideration, as well as his health status. “The man didn’t look healthy to me,” she stated.
Per the Criminal Code, 1960 (ACT 29), a person convicted of having sexual intercourse with a child under age 16, with or without his or her consent, shall be imprisoned for a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 25 years.
